Buying Guns Out-of-Country?

Hypothetical situation. You're on vacation, somewhere outside of the country, and you find a great deal on some sort of gun (legal in the US) either from a gun-store or via a private party. Is there anyway to buy that gun, and return with it to the US, legally? Do the laws vary from country to country? Would the amount of needed effort outweigh any potential good deal?

A buddy of mine is a Naval Officer, and he says that they bought new Glocks, Sigs, and Berettas during port calls in Haifa, Israel all the time. Apparently European handguns are dirt cheap over there. When they go back aboard ship, they check them into the armory, and when they arrive back in the US, they declare them to Customs, and they're good to go.

Technosavant

January 2, 2007, 01:04 PM

Yes, you can. Depending on the gun. Your local ATF office (or their website) will have the appropriate procedure; there is a special form for it.

Just checked the website... looks like Form 5330.3A is what civilians use, 5330.3B is for military members.